Early Grade Learner Assessments

Standardised testing is only one of many components to making evidence-based improvements in education systems, but it can provide important insights.

What are Early Grade Learner Assessments?

Social Surveys Africa is specialised in conducting standardised assessments of early grade learners in South Africa, including Grade R, Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3. We use Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and Early Grade Mathematics Assessment (EGMA) as well as the ELOM-R and ELOM-1 formats. The assessment tools provide reliable and valid assessment tools to measure school readiness (Grades R and 1) and Foundation Phase (Grades 1-3) core competency skills.

How does Social Surveys do Early Grade Learner Assessments?

Social Surveys Africa is the only organisation in South Africa to have developed and validated a standardised form of EGMA and EGRA for Grade 1 learners. We use the Grade 2-3 EGMA/EGRA tools recommended by the Department of Basic Education

The tools are available in a wide range of South African languages.

Social Surveys offers highly qualified and experienced enumerators who can conduct assessments in all South African languages. We use specialised software for standardised timing, quality control and multi-year learner tracking. Assessments can be conducted with a whole Grade or a sample of learners. We have the capacity to assess an entire school in one day and provide assessment results within one week. We recommend two assessments per annum per grade to reflect trends in learning improvement (Feb/Oct).

What do Early Grade Learner Assessments allow you to do?

Measure impact of school improvement interventions on learning outcomes

Measure school readiness of Grade 1s

Measure success of your teaching programme in reading and numeracy

Track learner improvements over time

Identify learner challenges early

Plan timely targeted interventions

Benchmark your school

Who can benefit from Early Grade Learner Assessments?

Education funders and implementing agencies to evaluate the impact of school improvement interventions on learning outcomes.

School Principals and Governing Bodies to assess and benchmark teaching programme success.

Teachers to identify individual learner challenges early and track learner improvements over time